Timing advance" refers to the number of degrees before top dead center (BTDC) that

the spark will ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber during the
compression stroke.
Retarded timing can be defined as changing the timing so that fuel ignition
happens later than the manufacturer's specified time.

"Timing advance" refers to the number of degrees before top dead center (BTDC) that
the spark will ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber
during the compression
stroke. Retarded timing can be defined as changing the timing so that fuel ignition
happens later than the manufacturer's specified time.
For example, if the timing specified by the manufacturer was set at 12 degrees
BTDC initially and adjusted to 11 degrees BTDC, it would be referred to as
retarded.
In a classic ignition system with breaker points, the basic timing can be set
statically using a test light or dynamically using the timing marks and a timing
light.

Timing advance is required because it takes time to burn the air-fuel mixture.
Igniting the mixture before the piston reaches TDC will allow the mixture to fully
burn
soon after the piston reaches TDC. If the air-fuel mixture is ignited at the
correct time, maximum pressure in the cylinder will occur sometime after
the piston reaches TDC allowing the ignited mixture to push the piston down the
cylinder with the greatest force. Ideally, the time at which the mixture
should be fully burnt is about 20 degrees ATDC. This will maximize the engine's
power producing potential. If the ignition spark occurs at a position
that is too advanced relative to piston position, the rapidly expanding air-fuel
mixture can actually push
against the piston still moving up, causing knocking (pinging) and possible engine
damage.
If the spark occurs too retarded relative to the piston position, maximum cylinder
pressure will occur after the piston is already traveling too far down the
cylinder.
This results in lost power, overheating tendencies, high emissions, and unburned
fuel.

The ignition timing will need to become increasingly advanced (relative to TDC) as
the engine speed increases so that the air-fuel mixture has
the correct amount of time to fully burn. As the engine speed (RPM) increases, the
time available to burn the mixture decreases but the burning
itself proceeds at the same speed, it needs to be started increasingly earlier to
complete in time. Poor volumetric efficiency at higher engine
speeds also requires increased advancement of ignition timing. The correct timing
advance for a given engine speed will allow for maximum cylinder pressure to be
achieved at the correct crankshaft angular position. When setting the timing for
an automobile engine, the factory timing setting can usually be found on a sticker
in the engine bay.

The ignition timing is also dependent on the load of the engine with more load
(larger throttle opening and therefore air:fuel ratio)
requiring less advance (the mixture burns faster). Also it is dependent on the
temperature of the engine with lower temperature allowing
for more advance. The speed with which the mixture burns depends also on the
octane rating of the fuel and on the air-fuel ratio.

Dynamometer tuning[edit]
FUel air equivalence ratio:
The equivalence ratio is defined as the ratio of the actual fuel/air ratio to the
stoichiometric fuel/air ratio. Stoichiometric combustion occurs
when all the oxygen is consumed in the reaction, and there is no molecular
oxygen(O2) in the products.